Library Blog

Prime Minister opens Hub

2007-10-30T15:50:00.001+13:00

Prime Minister Helen Clark opened the new Hub last week and took the opportunity to check out a copy of Richard Bolstad's Transforming Communication (someone should have told her 100-odd student nurses are after that book too!).

You can watch a slideshow of lovely pictures from the opening, or if you prefer your pictures moving, spot your favourite librarians on Maori TV and TV3.

Montana Poetry Day

2007-07-27T12:01:00.000+12:00

Modern Stupid

It's much easier to be stupid these days than in previous times.

Back in the old days they had to do it all by hand. It was sheer drudgery.

Now we can do it faster and with more comfort, thanks to modern methods.

You can fit it into a busy life, it's available to everyone. It's right there at your fingertips.

Michael Leunig

Reference this!

2007-07-18T13:48:00.000+12:00

If the thought of referencing all those library books you've quoted in your essay is just too much let the Library's OttoBib bookmarklet help you out.

If you're using Firefox drag this Reference this! link to your Bookmarks Toolbar. Alternatively you can right-click and select 'Bookmark This Link…' (If you're using Internet Explorer, right-click on this Reference this! link and select 'Add to Favorites…'.)

Now when you come across a book in our catalogue (or anyone else's catalogue for that matter) that you'd like to reference simply select the ISBN of the book and click 'Reference this!' on your toolbar.

Remember to always check the formatting of any reference this, or any other online tool provides. The Library has a comprehensive collection of referencing help available.

Never judge a book by its cover

2007-06-15T11:27:00.000+12:00

Have you noticed that cover images now grace the catalogue entry for many of our books? The more eagle eyed among you may have also noticed the additional information provided for those titles too.

These catalogue enhancements are being trialed for the time being while we canvas your opinion. Do you appreciate the enriched catalogue entries? Leave us a comment.

I wanna be a librarian

2007-05-07T15:04:00.000+12:00

It seems doubly appropriate in the midst of New Zealand Music Month to highlight New Zealand gothic/country/pop band Haunted Love's dark ode to librarians.

The Dunedin duo don twin-sets and pearls to dress-up as their book-stamping heros and punish a wayward library patron who breaks all the rules in this 4 minute film-noire pastiche.

Leave us a comment listing all the protocols our library defiler breaks and go in the draw to win some Haunted Love of your very own.

While we haven't got any Haunted Love in our library yet perhaps you could make do with something else from our New Zealand music collection.

So many books, so little coffee

2007-05-04T14:42:00.000+12:00

We welcomed Theresa to the library fold today with another lengendary library morning tea which doubled as our contribution to New Zealand's biggest coffee break.

Wintec librarians, purveyors of fine coffee and chocolate cake, are doing their bit to help the world's coffee farmers work their way out of poverty by only imbibing fair trade coffee during our (small) coffee breaks. We apologise if the freshly brewed smell of fair trade coffee interrupts your study.

As easy as 1, 2, 3

2007-04-24T12:17:00.000+12:00

Using Firefox or Internet Explorer 7 as your web browser? Then searching the new Library catalogue just got simpler:

click in the Search bar,
type your keywords, and
press Enter.

The most relevant results are displayed in your browser window—no need to visit the catalogue!

If you use either Firefox 2.0 or IE7 you can install the Wintec Library search plugin by clicking on the Search bar icon and selecting Add "Wintec Library" from the drop down list.

If you use an older version of Firefox, either get Firefox 2.0, or click here to install the plugin.

Happy searching!

Q. When is a 3 day loan not a 3 day loan?

2007-04-02T20:00:00.000+12:00

A. When it's a 12 day loan!

Yes, you read that right, until 5 p.m. Thursday April 5 we are issuing 3 day loans until April 16!

Why the early Easter egg? Well over the Easter break the library bunnies will be installing a new library management system. As additional consequences of this:

we can cannot accept recalls or reserves until Friday April 13, and

renewals cannot be made between Thursday April 5 and Monday April 16 (so if your books fall due within this period they must be returned).

Thank you for your cooperation in this changeover period.

Sugar anyone?

2007-03-14T16:36:00.000+13:00

This morning's NZ Herald ran an Associated Press story under the headline: Soft drinks clearly associated with diabetes. The article, which linked soft drink consumption and poor nutrition, draws from the soon to be published research of Yale University researchers who analysed 88 previous studies. Equally disturbing is their finding that:

…studies funded by the food industry reported significantly smaller effects than non-industry funded studies.

A timely warning given that the American Beverage Association funded research published this month which questions the standard explanation for the link between soft drink consumption and obesity. What's more the researchers were found to have serious undisclosed conflicts of interest.

All of which only highlights the importance of information literacy when deciding who to believe. Feel free to contact the Library if you'd like to know more about how our information literacy programmes can help you or your students.

On tour

2007-02-19T08:58:00.000+13:00

With the start of the new term we're back to longer opening hours. If you're learning at Wintec for the first time or just need a refresher we're offering daily tours of the library at three times:

10:15 a.m.
12:15 p.m.
2:15 p.m.

Meet your tour guide by the information desk and allow about 15 minutes for the tour. The midday tour is followed by a brief look at the library's online resources. (You're welcome to join us in the library training room around 12:30 p.m. even if you missed the tour.)

Brickbats & bouquets

2006-11-17T08:55:00.000+13:00

We value your feedback and while we love receiving the bouquets (thanks Vicki), we also encourage you to suggest ways in which we can improve the services we offer.

You'll find our suggestion box at the issue desk, or, if you prefer, you can leave a comment here. We respond to all your suggestions, either posting a reply on the noticeboard outside the library, or right here on the blog.

Do you like people? Do people like you?

2006-11-10T16:42:00.000+13:00

Then you may well consider the vocation of a librarian. This short film provides a glimpse of the exciting and varied working life you can expect.

And in case you're worried that librarianship is too sedentary an occupation for you, the solution may well be the the Betty Glover Library Workout Tape. Come on everybody let's aerobicise!

Ms. Dewey

2006-10-27T16:41:00.000+13:00

Need help finding something? Have you asked Ms. Dewey? (That’s her on the right in case you were wondering). While her results may not be great this avatar sure has attitude. Ms. Dewey may not displace Google just yet, but for a bit of frivolous Friday fun she can’t be beat.

Get Firefox!

2006-10-25T11:20:00.000+13:00

Hot on the heels of the release of another web browser, the Mozilla Foundation have released Firefox 2.0.

You'll love the improved tabbed browsing, integrated search and if you spend more time than you should composing postings for your online courses you'll appreciate the built-in spell checking.

If you haven't already, do check out Firefox— downloaders can't be wrong! Oh, did I mention that it's free?

Labour Day

2006-10-20T12:12:00.000+13:00

The seasons sure move fast in the Library! Monday is Labour Day and to celebrate the struggle for an eight-hour working day the Library will be closing for the day. However, for most Kiwis it signals the onset of summer and a trip to the beach. See you all on Tuesday!

Weeding in the Library

2006-10-19T15:02:00.000+13:00

Spring is here and the weeding has begun! In consultation with academic staff we're busy withdrawing books from our collection which are rarely used or are no longer relevant to your curriculum needs.

Withdrawn books are available for you to take home from the trolleys on the ground floor. Get in quick to make your fortune selling these unwanted gems at Amazon Marketplace—The best book of WordStar is selling for 68 US cents!

The freedom to read

2006-09-25T14:43:00.000+12:00

While we may not stock Last Exit to Brooklyn, Groupie, or even any Hank Janson, Librarians have a long history of protecting your freedom to read and this week we celebrate Banned Books Week.

New Zealand has its own examples of the censorship of books. An early case involved Jean Devanny's 1926 book The butcher shop:

Set on a large sheep station near Taihape during the post-war years and featuring bloodshed, murder, suicide and 'a most vivid description of the symptoms of delerium tremens'.

"Its frank portrayal of farming conditions" were thought to be "detrimental to the Dominion's immigration policy" and the book was banned!

Looking for a date?

2006-09-15T16:51:00.000+12:00

Then do we have just the thing for you! The 2006/2007 Library Calendar is available now from the Issues Desk for the low, low price of just $8.00. You can preview the 15 glorious photos of your Library that grace the pages of the calendar at our Flickr homepage.

Buy one for all your friends and family this Xmas. Remember the overseas post cut-off date is 11 November!

What's bright green and

2006-09-14T16:44:00.000+12:00

Have you noticed the bright green Webhealth kiosk that has just been installed in the library? From the kiosk Webby will help you:

Find a Health or Social Service such as a counsellor, family service or a GP.
Keep up-to-date with what’s happening in your local community.
Find quality information relating to health and wellbeing.
Get connected to Online Chat Assistance services.

Finally, don't forget to introduce yourself to Webby by completing a short survey and go into the monthly draw to win… well we don't know, but if you do win be sure to let us know!

New Scientist, fifty not out

2006-09-04T17:05:00.000+12:00

To celebrate a half century covering science and technology stories around the world, ScienceDirect is providing free full text access to New Scientist magazine. Beginning with the August 12 issue, until the end of the year, we have electronic access to the weekly magazine. Enjoy!

Shhh, no talking in the library!

2006-08-17T16:21:00.000+12:00

The Library has received a number of requests from students for a quiet area and accordingly has designated Group Study Rooms 4 and 5 on the second floor as quiet study areas.

These rooms have been taken off the self-booking sheets for a period of six weeks so that we can monitor usage and establish whether there is an ongoing need. Let us know what you think by leaving a comment.

It was forty years ago today

2006-08-04T15:45:00.000+12:00

Beatles Revolver
Originally uploaded by poc67.

…well actually it was forty years tomorrow that The Beatles released what is widely regarded as their finest album: Revolver. Ray Andrews has added to the fortieth celebrations by releasing Abracadabra!—a free e-book that tells the story of the Beatles 1966 album.

If you like that e-book have you browsed the library's collection of electronic books? ebrary alone contains 26,000 books covering most subjects with links direct from the library catalogue. Login and begin storing your favourite e-books on your own bookshelf today.

Distance Library Service

2006-07-28T14:23:00.000+12:00

The Library Distance Service is provided for staff and students at Wintec campuses outside of Hamilton and for Wintec students studying courses by distance or living outside of Hamilton.

If you are unsure of your entitlement please contact Carolyn Paulsen. Phone 07 834 8800 ext. 8488, or email lbdes@wintec.ac.nz

Food in the Library?

2006-07-27T15:31:00.000+12:00

You can now bring food and drink into the Library to enjoy in places where there are areas of café tables and chairs. Please be considerate towards other Library users.

Under construction

2006-07-18T17:00:00.000+12:00

Sign of danger
Originally uploaded by Wintec Library.

As the Library is now next to a construction site, there could be some disruption in the shape of noise and dust over the next few months.

In the meantime, watch progress from a safe distance by viewing our demolition photo set over at Flickr; remember to check back often as we add new pics. How do you like our new perimeter fence?

Welcome back

2006-07-13T15:41:00.000+12:00

Sunrise at Waipapa Point
Originally uploaded by Will Ellis.

Welcome back to a new semester and to our new library blog. We hope that, despite the weather, you managed to enjoy the break.

We will be posting the very latest library news here first, so to keep up-to-date with the goings on in your library subscribe to our news feed, or, to have the latest library news delivered to your inbox enter your email address: